Family Mental Health Resources
There is hope and help for families and we hope this newsletter will help you find support (see group listing at right) and information your family needs.
In this issue:
Ongoing BC-Wide Family Resources | Learn about Concurrent Disorders | Chief Public Health Officer of Canada's Report | The Mental Health Commission of Canada Announces a Framework for a Mental Health Strategy for Canada | Research Studies/Programs looking for Participants
Ongoing BC-Wide Family Resources
If this e-resource has been forwarded to you by a friend, you can sign up for your own copy
Resources and Information from BC Partners
The following are some recent news items and service offerings from the BC Partners member agencies and other sources on topics affecting family members and their loved ones with a mental illness.
Learn About ... Concurrent Disorders When a person has both a mental health issue and a substance use problem, we say they have a concurrent disorder. (In the past, this condition was called "dual diagnosis" or "multiple diagnosis.")
This fact sheet was developed by the Centre for Addictions Research of BC (CARBC) and the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA-BC)
Chief Public Health Officer Identifies Children's Mental Health As Area for Concern
Children's mental health is one of six areas of concern for children's health and well-being, according to the recently released Chief Public Health Officer of Canada's report.
The report was focused on identifying early-life factors that have lifelong impacts on health. The report said international data suggests more than 15% of children may be experiencing symptoms of a mental disorder, yet more than one in three parents would be embarrassed to admit their child has a mental illness.
According the report, children's mental health can be promoted through education and awareness, community support, and a broad mental health strategy. The report endorses the broad mental health strategy being developed by the Mental Health Commission of Canada.
To read the report, see The Chief Public Health Officer's Report on the State of Public Health in Canada 2009: Growing up well - priorities for a healthy future at www.publichealth.gc.ca .
The Mental Health Commission of Canada Announces a Framework for a Mental Health Strategy for Canada
Download the Document: Toward Recovery & Wellbeing: A Framework for a Mental Health Strategy for Canada
Research Studies/Projects looking for Participants
Looking to help researchers help understand mental illness? Would you like to be involved in helping researchers figure out what helps the most? Please see this link to the list of ongoing research studies looking for participants with a mental illness or their family members.
Acknowledgements
This resource is developed by the BC Schizophrenia Society. Funding for this project was provided by BC Mental Health and Addiction Services, an agency of PHSA.
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UPCOMING FAMILY EVENTS
For more events, please visit the family calendar www.familyevents.bcss.org. View events sorted by location.
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For more events, please visit the family calendar
Ongoing Family Resources & Referral Information
Reaching Families Project (BC Schizophrenia Society/ HeretoHelp)
Families to Refer: Relatives or supporters looking for support groups or education events for themselves in their area of BC. No limitations by diagnosis. Relatives, parents, siblings, adult children, family of choice, lesbian /gay / LGTB.
**If your agency provides support or information events or groups to relatives/supporters of persons with a mental illness in BC, please send in your information for posting on this calendar to onlinesupport@bcss.org
Kelty Resource Centre
Families to Refer: Families needing help finding and accessing mental health info and services for children/youth with a mental health concern, youth with a mental health concern, adults/youth with eating disorder. Run by BC Mental Health and Addictions Services – office in BC Children and Women’s Hospital, service area BC-wide through phone and email.
BC Schizophrenia Society
Families to Refer: Families of persons with a serious and persistent mental illness (including but not limited to schizophrenia, psychosis, schizoaffective disorders) All family members welcome at support groups, family education groups (regardless of family member diagnosis). Kids in Control program provides service to children 8-13 of parents with any kind of mental illness, as does Family Respite program. Online support groups for family members is also not diagnosis-limited and are facilitated including groups for adult children, lesbian/gay family of choice and siblings. Referral details at the above links. Service areas: BC wide except respite and kids programs.
The FORCE For Kids Mental Health
Families to refer:Parents of children with a mental illness looking for support and information. Service area: specific regions, see website.
Here To Help Website
BC Partners for Mental Health and Addictions information offers a wide variety of general audience information on mental health, addictions and mental wellness. All information is evidence based. Funded by provincial health authority.
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